Quentin Tarantino has found the leading man for his upcoming project, with Ali G star Sacha Baron Cohen set to take on the role next year.
According to Deadline, Cohen will play the title character in The Popinjay Cavalier, a London stage play written and directed by Tarantino. The production will mark Tarantino’s first professional stage play as a director, while Cohen will make his West End debut in the lead role.
The 63-year-old filmmaker first revealed in 2024 that he was developing a play. He started writing the script in January 2025 and later confirmed that he had finished it. The Academy Award winner later planned to take the production to London. The project has been in development since, with the title and release window only announced in March.
What to know about Quentin Tarantino’s The Popinjay Cavalier
The stage play is a swashbuckling comedy set in 1830s Europe. The story centers on deception and disguise, drawing inspiration from classic swashbuckling stories on stage and screen.
The synopsis, per Deadline, describes the play as a “rambunctious comedy of deception and disguise.” It also promises a celebration of theater and its heightened romance, told with Tarantino’s distinctive style and wit.
Sonia Friedman Productions and Sony Pictures Entertainment are producing the upcoming stage show. In an interview with The Times, Friedman praised Tarantino’s script, describing it as funny and inspired by classic swashbuckling stories.
In a statement to Eastern Eye, Tarantino suggested that if the West End production is received well, it could later be adapted for a feature film. It will potentially serve as the tenth and final film in his career.
The Popinjay Cavalier is planned to premiere at an undisclosed West End venue in spring 2027. An exact opening date will be unveiled in the coming months.